Oz film order from B&H

[ChrisN]

Hi to all Aussies! It's time for me to stock up on film again, so I'm about to put an order in to B&H.

If any Aussies would like to share postage costs, I can include your order with mine.

I've run a few orders like this in the past (see here and here).

As with the last, I'll need people to tell me the items they want from B&H, with item description, catalog number, number of items, unit cost and total cost. I'm going to limit this to film, and powdered chemistry, to keep the weight and postage cost fair. No orders for liquid developer or paper please. I also need to limit the total order to less than $1000, for reasons you Aussies should all be familiar with! B&H web site here.

The cost of the postage from the USA to Australia will be shared in proportion to the value of each person's order. I'll calculate that when the orders are all in. I'll need payment for the items ordered up front, at today's exchange rate of $0.9881 plus a share of the cost of USA >> Oz postage. Payment will need to be by direct deposit (bank transfer = no fees).

After the film arrives here at my place I'll divide it up, repack for local postage and advise the cost of local postage.

The deadline for your orders will be Thursday evening 3 February. Please PM me with your interest and order - thanks and cheers!

[ChrisN]

Bump for the evening readers.

[fergus]

I'm in! PM sent, thanks Chris.

+ a bump for the late-night RFF readers...

[ChrisN]

Thanks Fergus - got your order.

[Keith]

I'm thinking maybe I should get some ink cartridges for my Epson R2400.

Around twenty two dollars in Oz and I just checked B&H and they're twelve dollars something ... and they wonder why we love internet shopping and won't buy locally!

[surfer dude]

Dammit I just received an order of 50 rolls of Tri-X and some Portra from them. That is a generous suggestion Chris!

Keith is right. I recently bought a roll of Velvia 50 locally for my son - $24.50! At B+H the same roll is $6.95!!! Now the local heavyweights like Gerry Harvey want internet purchases below $1,000 to be taxed. What was the catchcry in the 80's - Greed is Good?

[Keith]

Originally Posted by phil.wright

Dammit I just received an order of 50 rolls of Tri-X and some Portra from them. That is a generous suggestion Chris!

Keith is right. I recently bought a roll of Velvia 50 locally for my son - $24.50! At B+H the same roll is $6.95!!! Now the local heavyweights like Gerry Harvey want internet purchases below $1,000 to be taxed. What was the catchcry in the 80's - Greed is Good?

I've noticed that the 'feral gummint' have expressed little interest in Gerry's whining.

[surfer dude]

Ice pose that's a good thing!

[ChrisN]

I currently hold orders that come to just under $1k with the postage included. I think Customs includes the cost of postage in their $1k threshold, so I think I need to draw the line on this order now. I do have one other "expression of interest" so might run to a second order in a few weeks time. Thanks all - cheers!

[surfer dude]

I'll keeper nye out for the neck swun Chris. Awl a bess with this one.

Sorry. Keith's comment got me reading Let Stalk Strine again.

[Keith]

And I have enough ink to more than see me through the next few weeks!

Thanks for doing this Chris.

[Johnmcd]

Hi Chris,

Too late for this one but I'll catch the next one. I have also been putting off ordering a Mamiya 7 shoulder strap which I'd like to include - shouldn't weigh much

Cheers - john

[john_s]

Customs do include postage (and packaging if there is a charge for it). The exchange rate to convert to AUD is an official rate that you can refer to at the customs site.

http://www.customs.gov.au/site/page4277.asp

This works slightly in our favour since the actual rate we pay through a bank is more expensive than this official rate.

[Freakscene]

We get overcharged by the food duopoly, electronics, clothing and so many other suppliers.

I've worked in several government departments and I can guarantee you that if tax was levied on imported goods under $1000 it would cost more to administer the system than it earned unless there was an additional levy added, which goes against our international trade agreements and could end the government up in a world trade court case, which is further expense and embarrassment. These factors, in turn, pretty much guarantee that no government would introduce such a system. Thankfully.

Marty

[ChrisN]

B&H has advised that the order has shipped. It should arrive in about 10 days.

[parasko]

This is a great idea Chris. I'll definitely be interested next time!

I just bought 10 rolls of Provia from B&H and needed it urgently so shipped UPS. $68 for the film plus $60 shipping (ouch!) =$12.80 per roll, but this is still cheaper than buying in Australia by almost $13 per roll (double ouch!).

[ChrisN]

Oooohh! Look at this! That was quick!




I'll sort this lot out tomorrow and re-package for posting to its respective owners!

[fergus]

Yay! I can see my film in there!

Provia 400x is $10-ish from B&H, and $35-ish here in Oz... these orders are definitely worth it.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by ChrisN

Oooohh! Look at this! That was quick!




I'll sort this lot out tomorrow and re-package for posting to its respective owners!

These combined orders are real fun to unpack!

One of the ones I did I felt like spreading it out on the floor and rolling in it !

[PMCC]

Crikey. Appalling how much photo supplies cost in Oz. We're spoiled here in the U.S.

[fergus]

Originally Posted by Keith

...I felt like spreading it out on the floor and rolling in it !

Now there's an interesting mental image

[Keith]

Originally Posted by fergus

Now there's an interesting mental image

If you ever get slightly flattened film boxes you'll now know why.

[ChrisN]

And there I was blaming Australia Post!

Now I need mailing addresses for everyone. Still checking on the size of people's bundles, but at least for a few I think an Express Post pre-paid satchel t $8.40 may be the go.

[WalterM]

Sometimes I take B&H for granted.

never again

ground shipping from b&h takes a day to get to my place.. the b&h store is less than fifteen miles away from my city.

[Lax Jought]

Originally Posted by ChrisN

I think Customs includes the cost of postage in their $1k threshold

Yes they do. They also add the total cost of multiple boxes if they arrive around the 'same' (nb. undefined) period.